Time-recording mechanism.



C. B. JOHNSON.

TIME RECORDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1912.

1,080,697, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wiineaee Znvemv tor %w. Uizarles Z lo kn son C. E. JOHNSON. TIME RECORDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1912.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

g m MW COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN co wnsmm'ron, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN HARDWARE CORPORATION, OF NEVV' BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT,

CONNECTICUT.

A CORPORATION OF TIME-RECORDING MECHANISM.

Patented Dec. 9,1913.

Application filed April 13, 1912. Serial No. 690,604.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. JoHNsoN, of New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Time- Recording Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism adapted to record the time of certain operations, such as the periodical visits of a watchman to predetermined localities.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a device of the type known as a watchnians clock, but the invention is not limited thereto, as it may be used in other types of time recording instruments.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a shiftable recording mechanism which, when a proper key has been removed after actuation, is locked in an inoperative position.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism wherein an actuator other than a key causes the recording movement to be effected through the instrumentality of a key as an intermediary or connector.

Further objects are to provide improve ments which I shall now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a watchmans clock with the back removed showing the dial. Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the keys used in connection with the clock. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of such key. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the recording mechanism removed from the case of the clock. Fig. 5 represents a section through the recording mechanism drawn on the line 5-11 of Fig. 14. Fig. 6 is a sectional View drawn on the line 6-7 of Fig. 14. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts in different positions. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail elevations of the three tumblers. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in different positions. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the top plate which covers and supports the recording mechanism. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the recording mechanism removed from the case. Fig. 14 represents a section on line 14-14 of Fig. 4, on a larger scale. Fig. 15 represents a section on line 15-15 of Fig. 1, drawn to the scale of Fig. 14.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the figures.

The case 20 of the mechanism is illustrated as of a form common to watchmens clocks, said case containing clock mechanism (not illustrated) for rotating the spindle 21, having a clamp 22 for removably engaging a paper dial 23.

The back plate of the clock movement (a portion of said back plate being illustrated at 24 in Fig. 15) and the side plate 25 bound the space for the clock movement, said plate 25 providing a space between it and the wall of the case 20 for the recording mechanism, as best illustrated in Fig. 15, it being understood that the clock mechanism is contained in the space indicated as empty at the left in Fig. 15. Secured to the back plate 24 and covering the space for the re cording mechanism, is the top plate 26 (Figs. 4, 12, and 15). A vertical plate 27 is formed or provided with ears 28 extending under and secured to the plate 26 by suitable screws. The plate 26 is provided with an elongated aperture 29 above which projects the punch bar 30 having recesses in its under side to receive the points of the punchers, markers or recorders hereinafter described.

The plate 27 is provided with three rigid posts 31, 32, and 33, the latter being quite short relatively to the other two. The frame of the recording mechanism is a slidable or shiftable one and comprises an inner plate 34, an outer plate 35, and a top connecting web 36. The plate 34 is slotted at 37 for the passage of the posts 31, 33, and has a considerably larger opening 38 for the passage of the post 32 and the admission of the inner end of the key, as hereinafter described. The opening 38 is notched at its bottom, as at 39, to enable the frame of the recording mechanism to be shifted by the key in a manner somewhat similar to the shifting of an ordinary kind of bolt.

The outer plate 35 of the frame is slotted as at 40, a screw 41 passing through said slot into the post 31. The said plate 35 is also formed with an opening 42 of proper shape to admit the peculiarly shaped key 43, as hereinafter described, the said slot 40 and aperture 42 and the slots 0r openings in the inner plate 34 permitting the frame or housing of the recording mechanism to be shifted or slid in the direction of the length of said frame when actuated by the key, as hereinafter described.

The end of the key is formed with a hole 44 to enable said key to be slid onto the post 32, whereby said key is guided to its innermost position when inserted through the key-hole of the case and the hole 42 in the plate 35.

It is to be understood, of course, that a number of keys will be employed, all of the keys being duplicates excepting as to the location of the selector for the recorder or marker member. When there are ten of the recorders or markers, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, there will be ten keys. Each key is formed with a curved web 45, which for purpose of description but not of limitation, will be hereinafter referred to as the cam Web. The outer end of said web is formed with a lug 46 and the inner end with three steps 47 at different distances from the axis of the shank of the key. The edge of the Web is provided with a projecting lug 48 which I shall refer to as the selector lug because the position of such lug 48 longitudinally of the edge of the web 45 determines which marker or recorder is to be actuated.

To guide the key accurately to its innermost position, a rib 49 projects downwardly from the top Web 36 of the frame in position for the convex surface of the key web to ride along it when the key is being inserted. Of course before the key can be rotated at all, it must be inserted far enough so that the ends of the web can pass, in turning, between the inner and outer plates of the frame or housing.

A block 50 is secured to the inner face of the outer plate 35 of the frame, as by a screw 51. Mounted on a pin 52 supported by said block and by the inner plate 34 of the sliding frame are the recorders 53, each having an upwardly projecting marker or punch adapted to be projected upwardly through the aperture 29 of the plate 26 when the recording mechanism has been shifted by the key to unlocked position. The recorders 53 are normally held in the position indicated in Fig. 6, with their lower edges bearing on the post 31, by springs 54, a separate spring being provided for each recorder.

WVhen a key such as indicated in Fig. 3 is inserted to the position indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, and then rotated toward the position shown in Figs. 7 and 11, the end lug 46 of the key first rides along the curved edge of the large central aperture in the plate 34 without actuating said plate to shift it until the said lug 46 arrives opposite the notch 39. Owing to the fact that the curved surface at the right of said notch 39 is much closer to the axis of rotation of the key, further movement of the key in the direction described will push the plate 34 and of course with it the entire sliding frame, toward the right, shifting the recorders to such position as to bring the points thereof under the slot or aperture 29. During the last of the movement of the key, its selector lug 48 engages the under side of the prong of the particular recorder intended for that key and causes a perforation to be made in the dial between tlfe plate 26 and punch bar 30. Upon the return of the key, the housing or frame of the recording mechanism will be shifted back again, as will be obvious by comparing Fig. 7 with Fig. 6.

I provide means whereby the actual movement of the key to effect the operation of a marker or recorder need not be imparted by the hand of the user, the final movement of the key to effect this operation being produced by a spring actuator which I will now proceed to describe The actuator comprises a lever 55 pivoted on a screw 56 supported by the short post 33, said lever or actuator being provided with a recess 57, a shoulder 56 and a roll 59, the latter being in position to engage the convex surface of the cam web of the key, as hereinafter described. The inner plate 34 is provided with a lug which, when the frame or housing is shifted, is carried from a position above the recess 57 to a position above the shoulder 58 and vice versa. A suitable spring 61 constitutes the practical actuator for causing the record to be made, said spring having a constant tendency to throw the lever 55 and its roll 59 from the position shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, such movement of the lever 55 causing the roll 59 to act against the cam web of the key to complete the movement of the keyin the direction to effect the marking or recording on the dial. WVhen the frame of the recording mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the lug 60 keeps the lever 55 in its lower position, but as soon as the turning of the key in the direction described causes the frame to shift or slide toward the right, the lug 60 is carried off from the shoulder 58 so as to permit the spring 61 to force the roll 59 upwardly, the key having at this time been rotated far enough so that the cam web of the key has gone beyond the axis of the roll 59, so as to permit the roll to act in the manner described against that portion of the convex surface of the key web that is nearest the axis of the key shank. When the key is returned in order to be removed, its cam web first acts on the roll 59 to depress the lever 55 far enough to carry the shoulder 58 of said lever down to permit the lug 60 to ride on top of said shoulder and thereby lock the lever 55 in the position shown in Fig. 6.

To positively lock the sliding mechanism so that it cannot be moved along to bring the recorders into position to operate excepting through the medium of a true key, I provide a series of tumblers 62, said tumblers being three in number in the embodiment of the invention illustrated. The tumblers 62 are pivoted on the screw 41, and are provided with end notches 63, and with toes or lugs 64 adapted to engage the under surface of a lug 65 projecting from the inner face of the outer plate 35 of the sliding or shiftable frame, the tumblers being normally held with their toes engaging the lug 65, by springs 66, said springs being connected to the tumblers and having their outer ends bearing on an ear 67 connected to the outer plate 35 of the sliding frame. The end notches 63 of the several tumblers are at different distances from the top 6+1 of the tumblers so that, when the tumblers are all free to be held by their springs with their toes engaging the lug 65, the several recesses 63 are not in alinementand therefore the lug 65 carried by a portion of the sliding or shiftable frame, could not enter the notches 63, it being understood that the tumblers are mounted on the screw which is connected to the fixed post 31, said tumblers therefore having no endwise movement. Before the sliding 0r shiftable frame can be moved, it is essential that the tum- ,blers shall be shifted so as to bring their several notches 63 into alinement, and this is effected by the steps 47 of the key, said steps being so located that the first portion of the movement of the key from the position shown in Fig. 6 toward the position shown in Fig. 7, causes the said steps 47 to shift the tumblers to bring their notches 63 into alinement before the lug 46 of the key reaches the notch 89, and begins to shift the housing or frame of the recording mechanism. Fig. 11 illustrates the positions of the several tumblers to permit the housing to be shifted.

The operations of the several parts of the mechanism having been explained in connection with the description of the construction thereof, it will now be understood that I have provided a recording mechanism that is shiftable to a locked inoperative position which renders it impossible for a record to be made by any sort of a false key or instrument of any nature because so long as the housing is in the position shown in Fig. 6. it would be absolutely impossible to manipulate a marker or recorder. It will also be understood that I have provided means whereby the operating movement of either one of the recorders is transmitted by an actuator independent of the key,but through the medium of the key. Since said independent actuator is of such force or power as to render it certain that the selective recorder will be moved to its full limit, there will be uniformity of action of all of the recorders or markers. The one spring, of definite strength, furnishes the power to do all of the perforating of the dial by either one of the recorders. Owing to this structure the clock, not a key, carries the record ers or perforators. The keys are elements of the mechanism because they are necessary to the operation thereof. They are renewable or replaceable of course if broken.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the character described, having a time-controlled record-receiver, a record-making mechanism, and means for shifting it to a locked inoperative position.

2. In mechanism of the character described having a time-controlled record-receiver, a series of key-selectable recorders, and means for shifting them bodily independently of the recording operation.

3. In mechanism of the character described having a time-controlled record-receiver, a frame having recorders movably mounted therein. and key-operable means for shifting the frame to carry the recorders to and from operative position.

4. In mechanism of the character described having a time-controlled record-re ceiver, a frame having recorders movably mounted therein. means for shifting the frame to carry the recorders to and from operative position, and means for locking the frame in inoperative position.

5. In mechanism of the character described having a time-controlled record-receiver, a bodily movable recorder, a stationary barrier to prevent operation of the recorder when occupying its normal position, and key-operable means for shifting the recorder relatively to said barrier to permit it to be operated.

6. In mechanism of the character described, a plate having an aperture, means for moving a dial over one face of said plate and past the aperture, a frame movable along the other face of the plate, and a series of recorders movably mounted in said frame and having portions adapted to be projected through said aperture.

7. In mechanism of the character described, a plate having an aperture, means for moving a dial over one face of said plate and past the aperture, a frame movable along the other face of the plate, said frame comprising inner and outer plates and a connecting top web, and a series of recorders movably mounted in said frame and having portions adapted to be projected through said aperture.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, a plate having an aperture, means for movinga dial over one face of said plate and past the aperture, a frame movable along the other face of the plate, said frame comprising inner and outer plates and a connecting web, the outer plate having a keyshaped opening or hole, and a series of recorders movably mounted in said frame,

and having portions adapted to be projected through the aperture of the first mentioned plate.

9. In mechanism of the character described, a plate having an aperture, means for moving a dial over one face of the said plate and past the aperture, a frame movable along the other face of the plate, said frame comprising inner and outer plates and a connecting web, said connecting web having a guide rib for an operating key, and a series of recorders movably mounted in said frame and having portions adapted to be projected through said aperture.

10. In mechanism of the character described, a series of recorders selectable by different keys, and an actuator for transmitting operating movement to the selected re ccrder through the medium of a key.

11. In mechanism of the character described, a series of recorders selectable by different keys, and an actuator for transmitting operating movement to the selected recorder through the medium of a key, said actuator comprising a lever having a roll to engage a portion of a key, and a spring for imparting operative movement to said actuator.

12. In mechanism of the character described, a series of recorders selectable by different keys, and an actuator for transmitting operating movement to the selected recorder through the medium of a key, said actuator comprising a lever having a roll to engage a portion of a key, and a spring for imparting operative movement to said actuator, means being provided for locking said actuating lever out of operative condition when the key is removed.

13. In mechanism of the character described, having a time-controlled record receiver, a record-making mechanism shiftable to a locked inoperative position, and means for shifting the entire record-making mechanism independently of the recording operations.

14. In mechanism of the character described, having a slotted plate and having time-controlled means for actuating a record-receiver past the slot of the plate, a series of key-selectable recorders movable to and from position to operate through said slot, and keys for shifting and operating said recorders.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON.

Witnesses ALEXANDER L. MACKAY, JosErH H. LATIIAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

